Brain over Health: Empowered Relief

About Empowered Relief

Empowered Relief: Evidence-Based Pain Management

Empowered Relief is an educational intervention developed by Stanford University Medical School that teaches evidence-based skills for effective pain relief. Through our 2+-hour class, participants learn practical techniques to manage and overcome various types of pain, empowering them to take control of their health and well-being.

Do you have an upcoming surgery? We also offer classes specific to surgical pain. Either course can be helpful for pain relief in general.

Contact Us to Schedule Corporate Group Classes for Employees

Thank you for considering us for your company's health education needs.

An employee experiencing chronic pain can affect a company in several ways including employee mental health, lost productivity, and opioid addiction.

A single session Empowered Relief course is as effective as 8 weekly cognitive behavioral therapy sessions (the gold standard for chronic pain treatment). The program can benefit anyone; not only tho

*Online courses are offered with live instruction only.

Contact us with further questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the qualifications of your instructor?

Our Instructor, Rachel Downey, is a nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist with 19 years of experience in healthcare and education. She is a certified instructor for the Empowered Relief Program through Stanford University Medical School.

How long are your courses?

The Empowered Relief course is a single-session 2.5 hour course

*I try to be courteous of this time; sessions may be 2-2.5 hour time depending on questions

What is the evidence behind this program?

The Empowered Relief Program was developed by Stanford University Medical School. The following are links to a small sample of published studies that evaluate the Empowered Relief intervention.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38288134/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34398206/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40068160/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39122392/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35599968/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6830264/

Will I experience immediate relief?

When it comes to chronic pain, unfortunately, no. This program teaches skills that, when used consistently can actually change the activity and structure of the brain to provide decreased sensitivity to pain. Just like you can't expect to build muscles from going to the gym once, reshaping the nervous system takes time and consistency. Some of the elements in the personalized plan are quickly effective, but complete results take 2-3 months to achieve.

For surgical patients, decrease in duration of opioid pain medication has been seen when the class is taken during the perioperative period.

How can I find out more about Empowered Relief?

https://empoweredrelief.stanford.edu/

About the Instructor

Rachel D. Downey, MSN, APRN, CNS, CPNP-AC

I bring nearly 2 decades of healthcare experience into my role teaching Empowered Relief courses.

My approach to health is deeply rooted in advancing knowledge as well as practice. My career has included roles as a bedside nurse, clinic-based clinical nurse specialist, research coordinator, nursing professor, and nurse practitioner.

This blend of clinical practice, research expertise, public speaking, and teaching experience shapes my approach to practical and evidence-based education. I am excited to help clients take control of their health through evidence-based information and practices.

Empowered Relief